Ebay Buyers advice required

interceptor02

Ok here's my prob

I have purchased a piece of Chinaware from an Ebay seller and payed via paypal. The item arrived and I unpacked it and I discovered the item was broken and in several pieces. I immediately contacted the seller and we agreed she would send me the proof of postage and I would submit a claim to the post office. However I have since discovered that the item had been sent via standard parcel post and according to the Post Office website I quote

"Reporting a damaged item to us
The process for reporting a damaged item may include an inspection for
Insurance purposes. Please make sure you hold on to the damaged item and
It’s packaging for our inspection team. Please note that we can't accept
Claims for the following items:
Damage to ceramics e.g. ornamental and decorative china or porcelain if it
Was sent using our Standard Parcel service. Please use Special Delivery
for fragile items.Banknotes, cheques and coins, tickets, vouchers and high
value items - unless sent using Special Delivery"

According to Paypal I can't claim as it is under $25!

The item is not expensive £8 but the postage was 10.00.

I contact the Seller with the above information asking what should we do and she come back and ask me what I want to do!
I have not mention this to the seller; however the packing material used was not sufficient to protect this item from the rigours of transport. My problem being how do I prove it to the seller?

Therefore, what I should do? Ask for my money back, write it off as a bad deal or suggest to the seller to split the difference and get half my money back

Floxxie

It is for the seller to claim, not you. It is the seller's responsibility to make sure that the item gets to you in one piece. If it doesn't, then they should refund you and make a claim via the Royal Mail. In this case, it doesn't look like they can.

What do you mean that you can't claim via Paypal?

mexicanwaver

For the seller to charge £10, it's a lot of money for the Standard Parcel service. I think the seller should also have checked the terms and conditions of the Royal Mail service, before offering it as an option. Based on those terms and conditions, the standard parcel shipping service is obviously not fit for purpose.

Did they offer you a more expensive shipping option? Or was standard parcel service the only one?

Also, from what you describe, you could argue that the package didn't offer enough protection for a ceramic item.

Based on your description of the problem, it sounds like the seller is at fault and you have a good case for demanding a full refund.

interceptor02

According Paypal
1.
" The item I purchased was broken or incomplete. What can I do?

First, contact the seller and attempt to resolve the dispute directly. If this fails and you have taken all the required steps to resolve the dispute, file a claim with PayPal as soon as possible. Learn how to file a claim in the Resolution Centre with a step-by-step tutorial.

PayPal will determine which coverage applies to your claim during the investigation process and inform you of that decision.

If you purchased your item on eBay and your seller has insufficient funds to offer a refund, eBay's Standard Purchase Protection Programme will apply.

Because claims processed under this programme are subject to a 25.00 USD processing fee, you are not eligible for reimbursement if your eBay transaction is less than this amount. "

2. The seller only offered Standard Parcel Post.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

hi... if i were in this position.... i would ask for a full refund including the postage....(and the postage to send the item back to the seller)

its up to the seller to claim off the royal mail.... as they have got to lodge the complaint in the first instance ....not you.....

email the seller.. stating that you want a full refund.... and a refund of the return postage... (if the seller wants it returned....) and see what they say to that..... as in all fairness.... to them ( so far ) they have asked you what you want to do....

good luck...... keep us updated....

PurpleDuck

I've never had much luck buying china off ebay but its always been the seller who has refunded in full and sorted out the claims with the Post office. For £10 postage I would have expected the parcel to have been insured. Ask her for a full refund including postage or to supply a replacement.

user051105

I have never seen paypal say its under $25 u can't claim, start a dispute from the UK site.

apprentice_tycoon

I deal in china and use Standard Parcels if the item is too heavy for 1st class, it's a little known fact that you can't claim for damaged ceramics with standard parcels so they have to be wrapped exceedingly well, if you truly believe that they weren't I'd go back to your seller and point this out, maybe she'll just refund out of goodwill, I would if it was me that had messed up.

Out of interest, how was the item wrapped?

maryjane01

Give the seller a chance to refund and if they don't open an item 'not as described' dispute. I got a broken cake stand once, the seller didn't refund, ignored my emails, and I soon as I opened the Paypal disput they must have got scared and paid me back straight away. It is more than likely this will happen as the seller won't want this dispute on their Paypal record. The claim then closed down and was never escalated.

If that doesn't work, write it off. It is a small amount that would probably not be worth the greif it could cause you. Good luck with getting your money back.

soolin

Ask the seller for a refund, if they say no then chargeback via paypal. Ignore the $25 dollar thing, you can worry about that later if they try to charge (but I never have been charged). Anyway, that's only about £13 and you paid £10 post and packing so you are almost over the claiming limit for p and p alone.

Soo

Contains_Mild_Peril

I would ask for a full refund, and e-mail a photo of the damaged item to the seller so they know the claim is genuine. Since Standard Parcels doesn't cover them for damage to china, they might tell you not to bother returning the pieces if the item is beyond repair.
If you want to be nice to seller you could just ask for a part refund if you like.